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Assistant District Attorney Launches His Own Law Firm One Year Out of Law School

This profile features Jesse Paine of the Paine Law Firm who launched his own law practice with only one year of experience as an assistant district attorney.

Name:

Jesse Paine

Family Description:

I am 27 and married to Crystal, age 26.  We have two beautiful daughters, Kathrynne, age 2 1/2, and Kaitlynn, age 4 months.

Business Name:

Paine Law Firm

Business Description:

I operate a solo law practice out of my home.  I practice in the areas of small/family business, estate planning, religious liberty law, church/non-profit law, and debtor/creditor law.  I also do selected criminal defense work.

Location:

Lenexa, Kansas

Formal education/training:

• BA in political science from Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas) in 2003
• Law degree from Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas) in 2006
• Licensed to practice in all courts in the State of Kansas, as well as U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  

Prior work experience:

Prior to starting my practice, I worked as an Assistant District Attorney for Johnson County, Kansas, where I prosecuted both felonies and misdemeanors, with an emphasis on traffic crimes and DUIs.  Before joining the DA's office, I worked in the Kansas Attorney General's Office in the Civil Litigation Division.  There, I oversaw the office's bankruptcy practice and served as co-counsel in ongoing tobacco antitrust litigation.  Before coming on as an attorney, I worked as a law clerk in the division, where I assisted attorneys with discover, research, and writing for both tobacco antitrust litigation and prisoner civil rights litigation.

Forming the Idea:

During law school, God gave me a "vision" for establishing a thoroughly Christian law firm, where young men interested in pursuing a legal career could learn the trade from experienced Christian attorneys engaged in the battle protecting the rights and interests of fellow believers and churches, as well as encouraging Christian entrepreneurs through the development of small or family businesses.  After working long hours at the DA's office to the detriment of my family, and coming up empty in all my job searches, I decided now was as good a time as any to get started on this plan.

How you got started:

I resigned from the DA's office in mid-August after sensing that God was leading us in a new direction at that time.  I searched for a job from that time until the end of September.  During that period of time, I had a number of people independently encourage me to "hang out my own shingle" and take the leap into solo practice.  We prayed about it and God gave us a true peace about starting up.  Prior to this, anytime we discussed going out on our own, I always got cold feet, saying I needed more experience before doing so.  This time was different, though.  We had peace that this is where God was leading us.  And so, with a shoe-string budget, we opened up shop out of my upstairs office.

What was it like in the beginning:

Since I am still in the beginning stages, I cannot answer this question as I would like.  It has been a fun ride so far and great to see how God has opened doors for various legal work.  For instance, I contracted with a local attorney who I met through a mutual friend (also an attorney) to perform ongoing debtor/creditor counseling with referrals he receives.  With the current credit crunch market, the number of individuals being sued for bad credit card debt is increasing.  As such, this arrangement has proved to bring in a regular stream of income each week.  We know it will probably take years to get to the point we want to, but are certain God will continue to show Himself faithful.

What stage the business is at now:

We are still in the beginning and growing stages (when do you leave the growing stage as a business? Hopefully never.)

The biggest challenge you’ve faced:

Marketing. The legal profession is unique in that you cannot directly market or solicit to individuals whom you think to be in need of your services.  Therefore, it has been an exciting challenge trying to come up with alternative methods of marketing that are successful.

Key steps that made the difference:

Getting started. Taking the leap was the hardest thing to do, yet the most important. Without actually doing it, talking about  doing it accomplishes nothing.

Lessons Learned:

Actions speak louder than words.  Talk is cheap.  Leadership is taking those ideas discussed and putting them into action with goals and objectives in mind.

The best advice you received:

Just do it.  And stick with it.

What your work and family life was like before:

While working at the DA's office, I was working from at least 8-6 everyday, and bring several hours of work home with me.  My wife says that I was gone 22 out of 24 hours a day, either physically or mentally, and it was putting a strain on our family relationships.

What your work and family life is like now:

Since I have been home, I have noticed a marked difference in my relationship with my wife and girls... for the better.  God has been providing exceeding abundantly above all we could ever ask or think.